Monday, February 04, 2013

Misc Vacation Trivia


As the ever prompt wait staff attempted to remove Michael's plate, Zander quipped in his best announcer voice,  "Personal foul on the waiter - attempting to take the Chaplains pickle!"

Comparing notes with Justin and Christina back at the hotel.

Dinner with Deb, a friend from our first year in Japan. I forgot to take a picture.

Parking is at a premium in Tokyo - can you tell they are stacked on top of each other. You rotate the cars to get the one you need.


Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Shibuya Crossing


Happy Super Bowl Monday. We spent the a.m.  lounging around watching football....

We have discovered kids 10 and under eat EVERY MEAL FREE (to include drink, entree, dessert) during your stay at New Sanno through March.  We are doing our best to take meals here....the salad bar is a boon for Michael and I. ::grin:: 

We had a few hours after lunch and headed to Shibuya Station/Crossing.  We walked to the bus stop and took a 10 min bus to Shibuya Station. It was fun to watch our bus fill with elementary students. These two took time out for a quick game of Janken (Paper, Rock Scissor).


We've wanted to visit this statue of Hachiko in Shibuya since watching the movie.  Today we did.

Not sure what the naked children are about

Shopping for COACH in Tokyo is a bit different than shopping for COACH in Seoul. ::snort:: 


I love the energy of Tokyo. I prefer living in Misawa....but it's fun to visit and explore Tokyo.  This next photo is when things got a bit odd. I noticed this black hummer in the intersection....and the gentleman you can see in front of it was acting peculiar. Staica wanted her photo taken in front of the character on top of the building. I took it and  we walked around these two and we went down a back road.....and I noted more of the same men at each intersection...they were keeping eye contact with each other...and cell phone contact....about that time Michael caught up with me (I was executing my aggressive American woman walk) and said these guys were odd - up to no good and he speculated what they were up to. We kept the girls near and got back to a busier street. Back at the hotel we talked to security and it turns out the Nigerian mafia is a real problem in this area. We got more than we aimed for with this photo. We also learned a bit about the darker side of Tokyo.

We did find a great new ring for Nolan on one of the back streets....one that fits. I tried to interest Arielle in something from Forever 21 but she wouldn't bite.

Shibuya Crossing  is one of the busiest intersections in the world. Thousands cross it each day. Traffic stops in all directions to allow pedestrians across....and tall buildings with WIDE screen t.v.'s  entertain while you wait for the cross walk to turn. LOL  We climbed into "one of the busiest Starbucks in the world" to get bird's eye photos.




 Find the Gherkins - hint their the only ones not moving forward and looking UP. LOL 

Wall devoted to Hachiko

One is never sure what they'll see in Tokyo. Have I said I love to visit? ::snort:: Michael saw this and said, "WHAT is that?"

Zander replied, "Japanese men buy these for their wives, I think." ::snort:: I think not.

Not the busiest Starbucks - but a fun one in the station

This little stand was promising...

See the salad in a blender - second from left? We opted for two blueberry ices and a banana one....healthy, fresh...no added sugar or dairy. 

SCORE seats for all of us on the bus home! 

We had fun observing to see HOW to let the driver know he was at our stop. I'm VERY leery of pushing buttons since the time I thought I was flushing the toilet and summoned the ambulance and police! Michael was right - we simply had to push the red button - but again I don't often do that over here.


Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...